A leading Cornish vegetable grower is investing £5 million to diversify into free range egg production because of the government’s “total disregard” for fresh produce labour needs.
Southern England Farms (SEF) expects building on its new egg operations to begin this autumn, with around 112,000 hens due to arrive soon after. The free range egg division, which will supply major retailers, is expected to be in operation at the start of 2018.
Managing director Greville Richards said he began diversification plans soon after the Brexit vote, and the subsequent lack of commitment and understanding by government about the vital migrant labour needed for seasonal work in produce.
“I am very concerned about the migrant labour situation. Farmers seem to have been forgotten about by government,” he said. “I don’t think government is doing enough, and I don’t think local councillors are doing enough. They don’t understand the ramifications of insufficient migrant labour in fruit and veg production.
“It might cost £5 million to build an egg operation, but it will only take six people to run it. We’re going to have a big business there.
“This will complement our existing veg business in a few years once rotation for hen manure is in place,” he said.
“We are a young business looking for new areas of growth. We are very large players in the brassica market, but it is an area affected by risk of drought, frost and wind. We wanted something a bit more stable,” he said.
“It’s something we thought about after Brexit because the government has shown a total disregard for fresh produce.”
Richards said he looked at potatoes and daffodils but said the markets for both product categories are already well supplied by Cornwall. He said beef returns were not worth the investment, before turning to free range egg supply.
SEF has enjoyed a “record” year on many core products, Richards said, adding that he is “very pleased with how it’s going”.
Cauliflower and courgette in particular have seen strong sales, with growing interest in speciality broccoli Bellaverde and a new Tenderstem trial in the pipeline.
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